In the garden

By Patty Campbell, Special to the Citizen 04/12/12

Would you like to have a vegetable garden but don’t think it’s possible this year?

A lack of space, experience or resources such as tools or money to buy seeds and bedding plants doesn’t need to stand in your way. Applications for Gardens Growing Families, a community garden program for county residents, are now being accepted at the Henrico Extension Office.

Individuals or families who participate in the program receive expert help, free classes, tools, and water for irrigation as well as space to grow a garden for a fee of $5 to $65 a year, based on household income, the number of gardeners per family, and garden plot size. Garden plots are either 15 feet by 20 feet or 15 feet by 10 feet, and gardeners can rent up to two plots.

“Gardens Growing Families is designed to get people gardening, harvesting, preparing and storing nutritious food,” said Lisa Sanderson, Henrico Extension Agent.

“And, just as important as producing food, gardening together can help build families,” added Sanderson. “Families who garden together. To me, that’s the most important part.”

Garden plots are available in the Alma Avenue Island Garden near Alma and Laburnum Avenues and in Highland Springs at the corner of West Jerald Street and South Holly Avenue. The 34 plots at the Lakeside Garden have already been taken.

“We started in 2008,” said Sanderson, “And some of the original families are still with us!”

In a survey, almost all past participants said their family’s diet improved, and three-quarters said they saved money at the grocery store. “One man, who had two plots and gardened year-round, said he had saved almost $700,” said Sanderson.

The plots are available to participants from the first of April to the end of March. “You really can grow things to eat here all year long,” said Sanderson. “You have to like cabbage, and you have to plan, but you can do it!”

Participants maintain their gardens using only organic methods, which means no pesticides or herbicides in the gardens.

A demonstration plot is maintained by Henrico Master Gardeners, who are often on hand at the gardens to answer questions. “It’s the first experience for some,” said Sanderson, “so we encourage people to ask questions.”

A free seminar for participants will be held Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Henrico Demonstration Kitchen on Dixon Powers Drive. Topics include “Getting Started,” “Growing More,” and “Expanding Your Food Palette and Preparing Foods.” Programs for kids ages 5-13 will also be held that day.

“Young people can learn how to garden, see where their food comes from, and learn how to do things with their parents,” said Sanderson.

“And remember, food tastes better when you grow it yourself,” she added.

The fire broke out in the third floor of the Chase Gayton apartment complex in the 10 block of Chase Gayton Drive, near the intersection of Gaskins Road and Quioccasin Road, at about 1:20 p.m. Sept. 24. > Read more.

Crime stoppers needs your help to solve a double homicide that occurred in the City of Richmond in June of this year.

On Wednesday, June 7, at approximately 9:53 p.m., Richmond police officers responded to several calls for random gunfire in the 3600 block of Decatur Street. They arrived and found the victims, two males, Christian Singleton and Ketron Wells. The victims were outside on the ground lying near each other. Both victims had received fatal gunshot wounds. > Read more.

The Richmond Astronomical Society and Libbie Mill Library will host a presentation about the night sky and its astronomy Sept. 28, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Attendees will enjoy amazing views of the moon and other celestial objects with high-quality telescopes operated by members of the Richmond Astronomical Society. Guests will be able to see craters and seas on the surface of the moon with clarity and detail. > Read more.

The number of homes sold in Henrico County in August rose 10 percent when compared to the same month last year, according to data compiled by Long & Foster. The average sale price of those homes – $239,975 – also rose, by about 4 percent when compared to the same average sale price in August 2016.

Henrico's jump in the number of homes sold was the largest in the Richmond region, though average sales prices in Chesterfield (8 percent increase) and Richmond (12 percent) jumped by higher amounts when compared to last August sales. > Read more.

Graham M. Bundy, a thoracic surgeon with HCA Virginia Physicians’ Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates, is the first such surgeon in Central Virginia to perform 100 minimally-invasive Da Vinci robot-assisted lobectomies (a surgical procedure to remove a lobe of the lung). The procedure is used to treat multiple types of conditions but is most often used to treat lung cancer. > Read more.

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The Richmond West Breakfast Lions Club meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the E. Bruce Heilman Dining Center at the University of Richmond. Each meeting features breakfast and an interesting speaker. For details, call Pete Sizemore at 288-0999.
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